SOMEONE MARRY BARRY

US, 2012, 85 minutes, Colour.
Tyler Labine, Damon Wayans Jr, Lucy Punch, Hayes Mac Arthur, Thomas Middleditch Ed Helms.
Directed by Rob Pearlstein.

Someone Marry Barry is a kind of dumb and dumber romantic comedy – with plenty of rude and crass moments and dialogue, which audiences may be able to accept because of interest in the central characters – despite there being dumb and dumber.

This is the story of three friends who have a history together, meet regularly, and try to help their friend Barry (Tyler Labine). Barry is completely socially inept, says whatever comes into his head, makes the worse judgements, and gets involved in all kinds of slapstick situations. The three friends are becoming exasperated but decided that the best way out is to find a wife for Barry.

The three friends, including Damon Wayans Jr, try out all kinds of possible brides but none of them are suitable, or are above this kind of plotting and a fate with Barry.

Suddenly, on to the scene comes Melanie Miller. She is played by British actress Lucy Punch (one of the ugly sisters in Into the Woods). She is a female version of Barry and for laughs the film depends a lot on the scenes with the two together, mirroring each other, saying the most inappropriate things, sexual inuendo, and a raucous enjoyment of each other’s company.

When things begin to go wrong, the couple seem to be on the verge of breaking up, they are brought together, have heartfelt talks, understand each other, and, despite everything, the screenplay makes us presume that there could be happy ever after.

For those who can find the rude and offensive material comparatively inoffensive, this is an offbeat, odd couple, odd-romantic comedy.